Cushioned folder

ABSTRACT

A cushioned folder for a flat article such as a book or the like is provided with protecting cells on the four boundaries thereof. The folder is formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like to provide foldably interconnected major and minor walls connected as a tubular sleeve. A cavity is defined in the folder for a flat article and consists of first and second flaps connected to opposite sides of one of the major walls, the flaps being foldable into position to embrace opposite sides of the flat article. The first and second flaps partly define cells for protecting opposite ends and sides of the article, one of the major walls and one of the flaps defining extensions upon folding of the flaps to position, these extensions being embraced by closure flaps which are folded to define a pair of opposing protecting cells. The first and second flaps and one of said major walls are slit to provide tab elements cooperating with the minor walls for defining protecting cells for the ends of the article.

United States Patent [1 1 Carpenter I 111 3,790,065 1 1 Feb. 5, 1974 i 1 CUSHIONED FOLDER v [75] Inventor: John L. Carpenter, Anderson, Ind.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

' Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 218,066

[52] Cl. .1 229/40, 206/46 FR Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Lindberg [57] ABSTRACT A cushioned folder for a flat article such as a book or the like is provided with protecting cells on the four boundaries thereof. The folder is formed from a cut,

and scored blank of paperboard or the like to provide foldably interconnected major and minor walls connected as a tubular sleeve. A cavity is defined in the folder for a flat article and consists of first and second flaps connected to opposite sides of one of the major walls, the flaps being foldable into position to embrace opposite'sidcs of the flat article. The first and second flaps partly define cells for protecting opposite ends and sides of the article, one of the major walls and one of the flaps defining extensions upon folding of the flaps to position, these extensions being embraced by closure flaps which are folded todefine a pair of opposing protecting cells. The first and second'flaps and one of said major walls are slit to provide tab elements cooperating with the minor walls for defining protecting cells for the ends of the article.

-- s-clans, nawin Figures CUSHIONED FOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. The Field of the Invention The invention herein relates generally to shipping folders for flat articles such as books or the like, the folder being so arranged as to protect the shipped article by means of protecting cells at the four boundaries of the folder.

2. The Prior Art Skaggs US. Pat. No. 3,116,005 discloses a shipping folder having a pair of protecting cells for the article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the cushioned folder according to the present invention in closed position;

FIG. 2'is a perspective view showing the steps in closing the folder about a book or the like;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for forming the folder of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;'and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction'of the arrows.

The cushioned folder according to the present invention-is indicated by the reference numeral 10, and is formed from a cut and scored blank A seen in FIG. 3. Blank 10A includes interconnected parallel major walls 11 and 12 and parallel minor walls 13 and 14, these being connected to each other along fold lines 16. Minor wall 14 has a closure flap 17 connected thereto along fold line 18, and the ends of closure flap 17 are mitered as at 35 for reasons as will appear as this specification proceeds.

Structure is provided for defining a cavity for a book .8 or other flat article, and comprises a first flap l9 and a second flap 21, the two flaps being connected by a fold line 22. Flap 21. is mitered at the corners thereof as at 20. First flap 19 is connected to one of the major panels 11 along a fold line 25 as seen in FIG. 4. First and second flaps 19 and 21 are folded to the positions seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, flap 21 lying along the surface of the book B and being spaced from one of the major panels-11, book B being held there between. As seen in FIG. 4,'flap 19 is erected to a vertical position with respect to major .panels 11 to embrace aside of book B.

Structure is provided in major panel 11 and second flap 21 to partly define a cell for protecting the sides of book B, and to this end out line 26 extends inward from the foldline 22, out line 26 being intersected by a out line 23 parallel to fold line 22.'When flap 21 is folded to the position seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 an extension 28 is provided. Similarly, lower major panel 1 l is provided with a cut line 24 spaced from cut line 23. Cut lines 27 extend from fold line and intersect with cut line 24 to define an extension 29 from the major panel 11 and in the plane thereof.

The first and second flaps 19 and 21 and major panel 11 also partly define cells for protecting the opposite ends of book B. To this end connected tab elements 31 and 32 are provided at opposite ends of major panel 11, and the first and second flaps 19 and 21. Connected tab elements 31 and 32 are defined by cut lines 34 spaced inward from the edges of the major panel 11. Score lines 33, 36 and 37 extend from the edges of the flaps 19 and 21 and the wall 11 to the out line 34. Upon the folding of the flaps 19 and 21, the connected tab elements 31 and 32 adopt the V-configuration seen in FIG. 4. The cells for suchprotection are completed by the other major panel 12, together with the minor walls 13 and 14 connected thereto. Major panel 12 is folded into position overlying flaps 21. Closure flap 17 is secured to the underside of major panel 1 1. At the completion of such folding operation, minor panels 13 and 14 are in abutting relationship with the distal edges of the connected tab elements 31 and 32 and the ends of major panel -11 and the ends of flaps 21.

Major panel 12 is provided with a pair of closure flaps 38 and 39 foldably connected along a fold line 41. Flap 38 is foldably connected to major panell2 along a fold line 42. It may be noted also that arrangement of the connected tab elements 31 and 32 is such that the score lines 33 are in contact with flap 38 when moved to the closed position seen in FIG. 4. Flap 39 is folded beneath wall 11 and secured thereto as by a gluing operation. Flaps 39 are mitered as at 40, and flap 17 at 35, so that they may be folded snugly to position as seen in FIG. 1. I

It will be seen from the foregoing description that there has been provided a cushioned folder characterized by protective cells at the four boundaries thereof, the cells completely isolating all four sides of the article. r

' I claim:

1. A cushioning folder for a book or similar article, said folder being formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like and being characterized by cells disposed along all edges thereof for protecting an article to be positioned in said folder, said folder comprising:

a. first and second generally rectangular major panels hingedly interconnected by a minor panel disposed therebetween, said major panels being folded relative to one another to place one of said major panels in an overlying relationship with the other of said major panels; I

b. said first major panel having a plurality of firs flaps and a second flap foldably connected to each of the two free parallel edges thereof which are adjacent said minor panel;

I c. said first flaps being foldably connected to said second flap and to said major panel with said first flaps being in abutting relationship with opposed edges of an article positioned on said major panel and said second flaps being in overlying relationship with respect to said article;

d. cell forming means formed from said second flaps and said major panel to partly define cells for protecting two edges of said article, said cell-forming means comprising an extension from said major panel and an extension from said second flap when said second flap is folded to a position of abutting relationship with said article, said extensionsextioned parallel to the remaining parallel edges of said major panel each of said tab elements forming a barrier between said article and the crresponding edge of said major panel; 22

g. said minor panel being in abutting relationship with said tab elements;

h. additional first and second flaps formed adjacent an edge of said second major panel in parallel relationship with said minor panel with said additonal first flap being in abutting relationship with said tab elements and said additional second flap being secured to said first major panel.

2. A cushioned folder according to claim 1 wherein said tab elements are foldably connected to said first named major panel and said first named second flap.

3. A cushioned folder according to claim 2 wherein said tab elements are foldably connected to each other to adopt a V-configuration. 

1. A cushioning folder for a book or similar article, said folder being formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard or the like and being characterized by cells disposed along all edges thereof for protecting an article to be positioned in said folder, said folder comprising: a. first and second generally rectangular major panels hingedly interconnected by a minor panel disposed therebetween, said major panels being folded relative to one another to place one of said major panels in an overlying relationship with the other of said major panels; b. said first major panel having a plurality of first flaps and a second flap foldably connected to each of the two free parallel edges thereof which are adjacent said minor panel; c. said first flaps being foldably connected to said second flap and to said major panel with said first flaps being in abutting relationship with opposed edges of an article positioned on said major panel and said second flaps being in overlying relationship with respect to said article; d. cell forming means formed from said second flaps and said major panel to partly define cells for protecting two edges of said article, said cell-forming means comprising an extension from said major panel and an extension from said second flap when said second flap is folded to a position of abutting relationship with said article, said extensions extending outwardly from said two free parallel edges; e. additional cell-forming means formed from said first and second flaps and said major panel, said addItional cushioning means being adjacent the ends of said flaps and being parallel to said minor panel to partly define cells for protecting said article along the two remaining parallel edges of said major panel; f. each of said additional means comprising tab elements from said first major panel and said first and second flaps and partially defined by cut lines positioned parallel to the remaining parallel edges of said major panel each of said tab elements forming a barrier between said article and the corresponding edge of said major panel; 22 g. said minor panel being in abutting relationship with said tab elements; h. additional first and second flaps formed adjacent an edge of said second major panel in parallel relationship with said minor panel with said additonal first flap being in abutting relationship with said tab elements and said additional second flap being secured to said first major panel.
 2. A cushioned folder according to claim 1 wherein said tab elements are foldably connected to said first named major panel and said first named second flap.
 3. A cushioned folder according to claim 2 wherein said tab elements are foldably connected to each other to adopt a V-configuration. 